Individual opinions don't necessarily reflect Amanah's stand, says Mat Sabu on call to reject Najib pardon

PETALING JAYA: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has the right to decide whether former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak should be pardoned, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

“Hence all parties must respect the decision of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he said.

The Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) chief said that individual opinions do not represent the stance of a party or organisation.

Mohamad said this after the party’s communication director Khalid Abdul Samad appealed to the King and the Pardon’s Board to reject the royal pardon for Najib.

Mohamad said Amanah leaders have the right to voice their views but they are ultimately bound to the party’s decision.

“This is the normal practice in any organisation,” he said.

“All individuals have the freedom to give their views as their rights are enshrined by the constitution. However, in the context of an organisation, the individual's views do not represent the organisation or party unless it is an official decision which was decided in the party meeting,” he added.

He added that Amanah and its partners in Pakatan Harapan were bound by the coalition's decision, even if it clashed with the individual party’s decision.

“The same goes with the unity government, the decision made by the coalitions under the unity government supersedes the decisions made by parties or individual political coalitions and (the decision by the unity government) must be prioritised,” he said in a statement on Sunday (April 30).

He added the unity government must focus on serving the people.

Khalid had said on April 28 that while the party acknowledged and recognised that forgiveness was the absolute right of the King but was of the view that pardoning Najib would send out a bad message to the people about the judicial system and also to the world regarding the attitude and stance towards corruption and misuse of power.

Meanwhile, Umno supreme council member Datuk Puad Zakarshi had earlier said that the Amanah could only be a political friend and not an ally.

He said Umno would abide by the legal process.

“Umno did not make noise when the Pardon’s Board did not discuss the Najib case two days ago,” he said in a Facebook post on Sunday (April 30).

“Amanah is questioning the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s discretion. Amanah is clearly questioning the King’s wisdom by making such appeals,” he added.

Therefore, he said it was difficult to be friends with Amanah.

“Perhaps can only be a friend. A friend that doesn’t guarantee the unity government will last. A backstabbing friend,” he added.